Toyota RAV4 2019 to get safety overhaul across the range

The new Toyota RAV4 will get a safety overhaul when it goes on sale later this year, with the brand promising class-leading safety right across its 11-strong range.

The Japanese brand is promising seriously impressive levels of safety kit no matter how much you spend, with the Toyota Safety Sense package to arrive as standard on every model in the range.

That means you can expect active cruise control, a pre-collision safety system with AEB, pedestrian detection, daylight cyclist detection, road sign assist, lane departure alert and automatic high-beam headlights.

You’ll also find blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a reversing camera, parking sensors front and rear and a total seven airbags, all as standard.

Opt for a model equipped with an automatic transmission, and you’ll also get Toyota’s “lane trace” system, which will automatically keep you in the centre of your lane when you’re using active cruise.

"Providing exceptional safety performance is vital for all customers so we have made all of our Toyota Safety Sense features standard across the range from the entry level front-wheel drive GX to the adventure-oriented AWD Edge model,” says Toyota Australia's vice president of sales and marketing, Sean Hanley.

The new RAV4 will hit dealers in the second quarter of 2019, with a total 11 different models across four trim levels, including front- and all-wheel-drive options and three engine choices.

We know already that the RAV4 - first revealed last year - will be offered with a hybrid option for the first time; paired with a 2.5-litre engine producing a total 155kW. There’s also a 2.0-litre petrol engine good for 127kW and 207Nm, and that will mark the cheapest way into a RAV4.

As well as entry-level GX, mid-sped GXL and top-spec Cruiser trims, the RAV4 will also be offered in a new and more rugged-looking Edge trim. The Edge is AWD-only, and is offered exclusively with a new 2.5-litre petrol engine good for 152kW and 243Nm. Decriers of CVTs will also happily not it’s offered with a traditional eight-speed automatic transmission.

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